Shifting arrangement for typewriters



May 15, 1962 M. LINK SHIFTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Nov. 4, 1959 3,034,629 SHIFTHNG ARRANGEMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Manfred Link, Nurnberg, Germany, assignor to Grundig G.m.b.H., Forth, Bavaria, Germany Filed Nov. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 850,858 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 5, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 19774) The present invention relates to a shifting arrangement for typewriters, or other similar business machines, and more particularly to a shifting arrangement for shifting the type lever carrier of a power-operated typewriter between two positions respectively associated with the typing of upper case characters and lower case characters.

Typewriter constructions are known in which the type lever carrier is shifted through a linkage connected to the drive means of the machine. However, the linkages provided in the prior art constructions are complicated, and require a great number of parts resulting in a difficult assembly and in an increase of the cost of manufacture of the machine.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of shifting arrangements for electric typewriters according to the prior art, and to provide an improved shifting arrangement of very compact and simple construction which reliably operates and is easily assembled.

With this object in view, an arrangement according to the present invention m'ainly comprises a type lever carrier shiftable between two positions for placing the type levers in two different positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters, shifting means mounted on the carrier for movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same between the two writing positions, drive means for operating the shifting means in the shifted positions, respectively, to move the carrier between the writing positions, respectively, and operating means for moving the shifting means between the shifted positions and into operative connection with the drive means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the shifting means is a forked lever pivotally mounted on the type lever carrier, and the drive means is a power roll having a portion located between the forked portions of the shifting lever. The forked portions are respectively engaged by the power roll when the shifting lever is shifted, so that the shifting lever is moved in the direction of the movement of the type lever carrier and shifts the same between the two positions associated with upper case characters and lower case characters.

Due to the fact that the shifting lever of the present invention is directly mounted on the type lever segment, or on a member fixedly attached to the type lever segment, the complicated linkage of the prior art construction is eliminated, and a single shifting lever is sufiicient for obtaining the desired result.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the single FIGURE of accompanying drawing which is a frag- 3,34,529 Patented May i5, 1%62 mentary perspective View of the shifting arrangement of the present invention omitting conventional elements.

Referring now to the drawing, a power roll 1 is driven to rotate in direction of the arrow a. A wheel 3 is fixed to the shaft 2 of the power roll 1, and has a peripheral surface formed with saw teeth. The greater part of the power roll 1 is used in a conventional manner for actuating the type lever actions of the type levers which are mounted in the segment-shaped type lever carrier 11. A bridge-shaped member 20 is secured to each side of the carrier 11, and is turnably connected to a lever '10 which is mounted on a pin '21 in the stationary frame of the machine. The other end of each member 20 is connected by a spring 9* to an attaching screw 22. The end of leaf spring 9 which is clamped by screw 22 also constitutes a fulcrum, so that members 20 swing up and down to move carrier 11 between two writing positions in which upper case characters and lower case characters are produced by the type levers, not shown. A bracket 26 is secured to the center portion of member 2%}, and is provided with an adjustable screw 13 which engages a threaded hole in bracket 23. A corresponding screw 13 is threaded into a hole of a projecting portion of member 20.

A stop member 14, shown in broken lines for the sake of clarity, is located between the heads of stop screws 13, so that the upper and lower positions of member 20, and thereby the two writing positions of carrier 11, are determined by engagement of one of the screws 13- with the stop 14-.

A holding member 1 6 is threadedly fixed to the fixed stop 14- and holds one end of a spring 15, the other end of which is clamped by a screw 24 which is mounted on a triangular projection 25 of member 20. Spring 15 is in a dead-center position when stop 1.4 is located equally spaced from the stop screws 13, so that it is partly released when member 20 and carrier 11 are shifted to a position in which stop 14 engages one of the stop screws 13. Consequently, the type lever carrier 11 tends to stay in each of the two writing positions determined by engagement of one of the screws 13 with the stop 14.

Shifting means are provided for shifting the carrier means .11, 20. A single shifting lever 7 is turnably mounted on member 20 by means of a pin 8. A spring 12 is secured to one end of shifting lever 7, and also to a stationary part of the frame, to urge shifting lever 7 to turn in counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing. However, when carrier means 11, 20 is shifted to its other writing position, shifting lever 7 and spring 12 will have the positions shown in broken lines so that spring 12 urges lever 7 to turn in clockwise direction. The end portion 18 of shifting lever 7 engages a transverse projection 17 of an angular lever 6 which is mounted on the frame of the machine for turning movement about the fulcrum 26. A linkage 2,7 is articulated at 2'8 to lever 6, and is connected to the conventional shift key of the typewriter. In the normal position of the shift key and of the operating means 6, '17, 27, turning of the shifting lever 7 under the action of spring 12 is prevented by engagement between portions 18 and 17.

When the shift key is actuated, the linkage 27 will effect turning movement of angular lever 6 so that portion 17 releases shifting lever 7 permitting spring 12 to turn'shifting lever 7 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing.

Shifting lever 7 has a main portion which extends substantially in the direction of movement of the carrier means 11, 20, as defined by the movable supporting means 9 and 10. The portion 7a extends transversely to the main portion of the shifting lever, and is turnably supported by pivot pin 8. The other end of shifting lever 7 is forked and has two forked portions 7b and 7c. Portion 7b has an inwardly projecting tooth 4, and portion 70 has an inwardly projecting tooth and a hook-shaped projection 18a. Tooth 4 is spaced from tooth 5 in the direction of the movement of the carrier means 11, 2%). In the illustrated lower writing position of carrier means 11, 20, which may be associated with lower case characters, the upper surface of tooth 4 extends in substantially radial direction to the toothed wheel 3, but is spaced from the same since turning movement of shifting lever 7 is blocked by lever 6, 17. In the illustrated position of the carrier means, the tooth 5 is located spaced from the toothed wheel 3, but substantially in tangential direction of the same. The toothed wheel 3 has a comparatively small radius so that the distance between the two printing positions of the carrier means 11, 29, and between the two teeth 4 and 5, is slightly greater than the radius of toothed wheel 3, or at least great enough to assure release of toothed wheel 3 by tooth 5 in the illustrated position.

The device operates as follows: In the illustrated position, the carrier means 11, 20 is assumed to be in a writing position corresponding to lower case letters, and the shift key is in normal inoperative position. When it is desired to shift the carrier means 11, 20 to a position in which the type levers thereon are displaced relative to the platen to write upper case characters, the shift key is depressed. This effects movement of the linkage 27, and turning movement of lever 6 in clockwise direction so that abutment 17 releases the end portion 18 of shifting lever 7. Shifting lever 7 is now free to turn in counterclockwise direction under the action of spring 12 about pivot means 8 so that the radially extending engaging surface of tooth '4 moves in a radial direction into engagement with the toothed wheel 3. Since power roll 1 with toothed wheel 3 rotates, shifting lever 7 is moved in tangential direction to toothed wheel 3 corresponding to the direction of movement of the carrier means 11, 2t). Carrier means 11, 20 moves from the illustrated upper writing position to a lower writing position in which the head of the upper screw 13 engages stop 14. Since spring 15 will tend to urge the carrier means 11, 2t] to each of the writing positions after having been moved through a central deadcenter position, it is only necessary that shifting lever 7 move the carrier means beyond the dead-center position of spring 15, and spring 15 will move carrier means 11, 20 to its other printing position together with shifting lever 7 which will move to a terminal position releasing the toothed wheel 3 but located substantially in tangential direction to the same, as is tooth 5 in the illustrated position.

When the shifting lever 7 moves under action of spring 12 from the first illustrated position in radial direction to the second position in which tooth 4 engages toothed wheel 3, the other forked portion '70 is also transversely shifted, and tooth 5 moves away from the tangential position relative to the toothed wheel 3. In the third position of the shifting lever in which tooth 4 is downwardly shifted together with the carrier means 11, 20 by toothed Wheel 3, tooth 5 is also downwardly shifted and is in a position spaced from toothed wheel 3 in radial direction in a position corresponding to the position illustrated in broken lines in the drawing. In this third position of shifting lever 7, end portion 18 is also downwardly shifted, and the hook-shaped portion 18m engages abutment 17 of the displaced blocking lever 6 of the depressed shift key.

When it is desired to return the carrier means to the normal writing position associated with lower case letters, the shift key is released, and spring means urge the shift key and operating means 6, 27 to return to the normal position illustrated in the drawing. During such turning 4 movement of lever 6, abutment '17 releases portion 18a of shifting lever 7. Shifting lever 7 is now turned in clockwise direction by spring 12 which has passed through a dead-center position, and moves from its third position to a fourth position so that tooth 5 moves in radial direction into engagement with the toothed wheel 3 which moves tooth S, and thereby shifting lever 7 and carrier means 11, 20 back to the initial position illustrated in the drawing. During such movement, spring 15 is again moved beyond its central dead-center position and urges carrier means 11, 20 into a position in which the lower screw 13 engages stop 14. Since shifting lever 7 is secured to carrier means 11, 20 for movement with the same, it remains in the illustrated position until the shift key is again operated.

The particular construction of the carrier means 11, 20, and the support of the carrier means on elements 9 and 10, are not objects of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the shifting means are directly mounted on the carrier means for effecting movement of the same between two writing positions under control of the power drive means of the typewriter, or similar business machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of business machines differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a shifting arrangement for shifting the type lever carrier of an electric typewriter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power-operated typewriter or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means mounted on said carrier means for movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same between said two Writing positions; spring means connected to said shifting means for urging the same from either one of said shifted positions to the respective other shifted position; drive means operatively connected to said shifting means in one of said shifted positions when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and operatively connected to said shifting means in the other shifted position when said carrier means is in the other writing position so that said drive means move said carrier means through said shifting means between said writing positions; and operating means for holding said shifting means in one of said shifted positions being movable to a releasing position in which said spring means shift said shifting means to the respective other shifted position and into operative connection with said drive means.

2. In a power-operated typewriter or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable along a path between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; a single shifting lever having two first portions extending substantially parallel to said path, and a second portion extending transversely to said path, said second portion being pivotally mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same bespouses 5, tween said two writing positions; spring means connected to said shifting lever for urging the same from either of said shifted positions to the respective other shifted positions; drive means operatively connected to one of said first portions of said shifting lever in one of said shifted positions when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and operatively connected to the other first portion of said shifting lever in the other shifted position when said carrier means is in the other writing position so that said drive means move said carrier means through said shifting lever between said writing positions; and operating means for holding said shifting lever in one of said shifted positions being movable to a releasing position in which said spring means shift said shifting lever to the respective other shifted position and into operative connection with said drive means.

3. In a power-operated typewriter or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable in one direction between two Writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; a single shifting member mounted on said carrier means for movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same be tween said two writing positions so that said member has four different spatial positions; said shifting member having at one end two confronting surface portions extending substantially in said one direction; drive roll means located between said confronting surface portions and engaging the same, respectively, in two first positions of said four positions for moving said member in said direction of movement of said carrier means to the second two positions of said four positions, respectively, so that said drive roll means move said carrier member through said shifting means between said writing positions; spring means connected to said shifting member for urging the same from either one of said shifted positions to the respective other shifted position; and operating means for holding said shifting member in one of said shifted positions being movable to a releasing position in which said spring means shift said shifting member to the respective other shifted position and into operative connection with said drive roll means.

4. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means pivotally mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same between said two writing positions, said shifting means having a forked free end portion including two forked portions; spring means connected to said shifting means for urging the same from one of said shifted positions to the other of said shifted positions; a rotary drive means having a peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting means, said peripheral portion engaging one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting means between said writing positions so that said shifting means has four spatial positions; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means having a normal position engaging said shifting means for holding the same in said one shifted position, said operating means being manually operable out of said normal position to release said shifting means so that the same moves to the other of said shifted positions and into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means tending to return to said normal position for shifting said shifting means back to said one shifted position after said carrier means has been shifted to its other writing position by said drive means in said other shifted position so that said shifting means in said one shifted position again engages said peripheral portion for shifting said carrier means back.

5. 'In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means pivotally mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same between two shifted positions, and for movement with the same between said two writing positions, said shifting means having a forked free end portion including two forked portions, each forked portion having inwardly projecting tooth means; spring means connected to said shifting means for urging the same from one of said shifted positions to the other of said shifted positions; a rotary drive means having a toothed peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting means, said toothed peripheral portion engaging the tooth means of one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the tooth means of the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting means between said writing positions so that said shifting means has four spatial positions; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means having a normal position engaging said shifting means for holding the same in said one shifted position, said operating means being manually operable out of said normal position to release said shifting means so that the same moves to the other of said shifted positions and into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means tending to return to said normal position for shifting said shifting means back to said one shifted position after said carrier means has been shifted to its other writing position by said drive means in said other shifted position so that said shifting means in said one shifted position again engages said peripheral portion for shifting said carrier means back.

6. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable in one direction between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means including a shifting lever means having a first lever portion extending transversely to said direction of movement of said type lever carrier means, said first lever portion being mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same so that said shifting lever means is turnable between two shifted positions, and is movable with said carrier means between said two writing positions, said shifting lever means having a second lever portion including two forked portions extending substantially in the direction of said movement of said carrier means; a rotary drive means having a peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting lever means, said peripheral portion engaging one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting lever means between said writing positions so that said shifting lever means has four spatial positions; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting lever means for shifting the same between said shifted 7 positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means.

'7. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, carrier means shiftable in one direction between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means including a shifting lever means having a first lever portion extending transversely to said direction of movement of said type lever carrier means, said first lever portion being mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same so that said shifting lever means is turnable between two shifted positions, and is movable with said carrier means between said two writing positions, said shifting lever means having a second lever portion including two forked portions extending substantially in the direction of said movement of said carrier means; spring means connected to said shifting lever means for urging the same from one of said shifted positions to the other of said shifted positions; a rotary drive means having a peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting lever means, said peripheral portion engaging one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting lever means between said writing positions so that said shifting lever means has four spatial positions; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting lever means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means having a normal position engaging said shifting lever means for holding the same in said one shifted position, said operating means being manually operable out of said normal position to release said shifting lever means so that the same moves to the other of said shifted positions and into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means tending to return to said normal position for shifting said shifting lever means back to said one shifted position after said carrier means has been shifted to its other writing position by said drive means in said other shifted position so that said shifting means in said one shifted position again engages said peripheral portion for shifting said carrier means back.

8. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, type lever carrier means shiftable in one direction between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means including a shifting lever means having a first lever portion extending transversely to said direction of movement of said type lever carrier means, said first lever portion being mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same so that said shifting lever means is turnable between two shifted positions, and is movable with said carrier means between said two writing positions, said shifting lever means having a second lever portion including two forked portions extending substantially in the direction of said movement of said carrier means, each forked portion having an inwardly projecting tooth means; a rotary drive means having a toothed peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting lever means, said toothed peripheral portion engaging the tooth means of one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the tooth means of the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting lever means between said writing positions so that said shifting lever means has four spatial positions; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting lever means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means.

9. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, type lever carrier means shiftable in one direction between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means including a shifting lever means having a first lever portion extending transversely to said direction of movement of said type lever carrier means, said first lever portion being mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same so that said shifting lever means is turnable between two shifted positions, and is movable with said carrier means between said two writing positions, said shifting lever means having a second lever portion including two forked portions extending substantially in the direction of said movement of said carrier means, each forked portion having an inwardly projecting tooth means; a rotary drive means having a toothed peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting lever means, said toothed peripheral portion engaging the tooth means of one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the tooth means of the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting lever means between said writing positions so that said shifting lever means has four spatial positions, said tooth means of said forked portion extending in substantially radial direction to said toothed peripheral portion when engaging the same, and moving to a position releasing said peripheral portion when said shifting lever means moves with said carrier means to the respective other writing position; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting lever means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means.

10. In a power-operated typewriter, or like business machine, in combination, type lever carrier means shiftable in one direction between two writing positions respectively associated with upper case characters and lower case characters; shifting means including a shifting lever means having a first lever portion extending transversely to said direction of movement of said type lever carrier means, said first lever portion being mounted on said carrier means for turning movement relative to the same so that said shifting lever means is turnable between two shifted positions, and is movable with said carrier means between said two writing positions, said shifting lever means having a second lever portion including two forked portions extending substantially in the direction of said movement of said carrier means, each forked portion having an inwardly projecting tooth means; spring means connected to said shifting lever means for urging the same from one of said shifted positions to the other of said shifted positions; a rotary drive means having a toothed peripheral portion located between said forked portions of said shifting lever means, said toothed peripheral portion engaging the tooth means of one of said forked portions in one of said shifted positions of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in one of said writing positions, and engaging the tooth means of the other forked portion in the other shifted position of said shifting lever means when said carrier means is in the other of said writing positions for shifting said carrier means through said shifting lever means between said writing positions so that said shifting lever means has four spatial positions, said tooth means of each forked portion extending in substantially radial direction to said toothed peripheral portion when engaging the same, and moving to a position releasing said peripheral portion when said shifting lever means moves with said carrier means to the respective other Writing position; and operating means operatively connected to said shifting lever means for shifting the same between said shifted positions to place said forked portions selectively into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means having a normal position engaging said shifting lever means for holding the same in said one shifted position, said operating means being manually operable out of said normal position to release said shifting lever means so that the same moves to the other of said shifted positions and into engagement with said peripheral portion of said drive means, said operating means tending to return to said normal position for shifting said shifting lever means back to said one shifted position after said carrier means has been shifted to its other Writing position by said drive means in said other shifted position so that said shifting means in said one shifted position again engages said peripheral portion for shifting said carrier means back.

Brockman Mar. 17, 1936 Bower Aug. 4, 1936 

